Whitney Houston – singer passed away at 48

The legendary American singer and actress Whitney Houston passed away at the age of 48. She was pronounced dead on Saturday afternoon around 4pm (local time California), despite resuscitation efforts.

The cause of her death is still unknown and investigated. Acccording to the police there were “no obvious signs of criminal intent.” In the afternoon more assumptions were revealed that she was drown in the bath.

Houston was supposed to appear at the 54th Grammy Awards gala tonight. Two days ago, she performed at a pre-Grammy party with singer Kelly Price.

She leaves behind Bobbi Kristina, her nineteen year old daughter with singer Bobby Brown. The entertainer was married with Brown from 1992-2007. Aretha Franklin was her godmother, says in a statement to CCN: “I just can’t talk about it now. It’s so stunning and unbelievable. I couldn’t believe what I was reading coming across the TV screen. My heart goes out to Cissy (Houston’s mother), her daughter, her family and Bobby.”

Career

Whitney Houston sold more than 170 million albums worldwide. Fom the middle 1980s to the late 1990s, she was one of the world’s best selling artists.Winner of six Grammy Awards, the most respected music price. Famous for an extreme high voice, selling more than 55 million records in America, seven ‘number one’ singles.

Including “Saving All My Love For You,” “How Will I Know,” “The Greatest Love of All,” “Where Do Broken Hearts Go,” and “I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me).“

The soundtrack to the 1992 movie “The Bodyguard” is one of the top ten biggest-selling albums of all time. She also starred in the film with Kevin Costner. The soundtrack included the hit,”I Will Always Love You.”

Born on August 9, 1963, in New Jersey, Whitney ‘s career begins at the gospel choir; her powerful, and peerless vocals were rooted in the black church. Mother and aunt Dionne Warwick, were singers. Soul and gospel were always important to her. Even when she became famous as a popstar,and R&B singer.

Twenty years later music producer Clive Davis spotted Houston in a New York nightclub, according to her website. Since then he is Whitney’s mentor for 25 years. On Thursday, Davis told CNN: “With Houston, “I saw a depth and a range and soul .. that rarely ranks at the top level. And that’s why we’ve been working together ever since.“

Houston’s range spanned five octaves, and her voice was plush, vibrant and often spectacular. Made her album debut with ‘Whitney Houston’ in 1985. Later in 1991, during the Gulf War, she sang a moving rendition of “The Star Spangled Banner” at the Super Bowl.

In the mid nineties Whitney is successful with films like “The Bodyguard” and “The Preacher’s Wife,” but problems appear. Soon she was struggling; her voice grew smaller, scratchier and less secure.

In an interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2009 personally described as a “heavy” user of marijuana and cocaine.” A tumultuous marriage to Bobby Brown, a former “New Edition” star who has had multiple brushes with the law, doesn’t make it better.

In 1998’s well-reviewed ‘My Love is Your Love‘ release is overshadowed by personal matters. It ruins her reputation, becoming a subject for tabloids worldwide. Houston went to rehab twice and said she was drug-free in 2010.

Having a break for several years before releasing her last album in seven years, “I Look to You,” in 2009. “I just took a break, which sometimes you have to,” said Houston. “You have to know when to slow that train down and kind of just sit back and relax for a minute.” A long awaited come-back never came true.

Houston was set to appear in this year’s “Sparkle,” a remake of the 1976 hit, which was loosely based on the story of The Supremes. According to many tabloids Witney was approached to fill one of the vacant judges’ seats on American’s “The X Factor,” but those rumors were never confirmed.

Whitney Houston has been an inspiration for many musicians. Mariah Carry says: “My heartfelt condolences to Whitney’s family and to all her millions of fans throughout the world. She will never be forgotten as one of the greatest voices to ever grace the earth.”